Charles j



C. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1914.

WAX/mazes UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

To all whom it may concern lie it. known that .l, (imam-1s J KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of lVlilwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description. reference being bad to the accom amying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to electric switches.

The various objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in connection with the description of the pre'lerrtal embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure l is a plan view of a switch mechanism;

Fl": 2 is a sectional view thereofl lg. o is a plan view ot the switch mechanism incorporated in a receptacle; and,

Fig. l is a detail perspective of one of the parts.

The switch mechanism Illustrated coinpr1scs.'m general, a reciprocable operating member having a lost-motion connection with a normally restrained contact member, and an energy storing connection between the members arranged to have cncrtry stored therein during the relative lost-motion of the members and to move the contact after its positive release under the influence of continued movement of the operating member.

Referring more specifically to the drawing. a spindle 1, having push-buttons 2 and 3 on opposite ends, constitutes the operating member and is jom naled through a relatively reciprocable contact carrying member 4. This latter member. comprises a cylindrical insulating block having an axial bore 5 provided with a medial flange 6 and internal shoulders 7 and 8 adjacent its ends. Peripheral channels 9 and 10 are provided around the block at opposite ends and an annular conducting band 11 is seated in the channel 10. The width of the band 11 is slightly greater than the width of the channel 10 to provide a cylindrical contacting surface 12 sunk flush with the sides of the block. Helical springs 13 and 14 are seated in the here 5011 opposite sides of the flange 6. The outer ends of these springs bear against the inner ends of the two pushbuttons. To enable assembly of the parts, one of the push-buttons is removabl' secured to the spindle 1 by threading, as shown, or in any suitable manner.

Resilient members 15 are provided to hold the contact carrying member against movement while energy is stored in one of the springs 13, 14 and until a positive connection is established with the operating member tor freeing the contact. In practice, the members 15 constitute a pair of stationary contacts having cupped extremities 16 biased inwardly and normally disposed in the channel 9 when the switch is in open circuit position or in the channel 10 when the switch is in closed circuit position.

The switch mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 3 as applied to a receptacle having alined recesses 17 in opposite walls to accommodate. the push-buttons. The switch operating member is supported in position by angle frames 18 secured to the base of the receptacle at. opposite ends and providcd with apertures through which the push-lmttons extend. The stationary contacts l? are also mounted upon the base of the receptacle and provided with binding screws It) for connection with line wires entering the receptacle through adjacent apertures 20.

Assuming the switch to be in off position (Fig. 3) pressure on the push-button etl'ects the following operation: The spring 14 is compressed against the contact carry mg member. since the latter is restrained by pressure of the resilient fingers 15 which prepomlcrate the force of maximum energy inthe spring 1 As movement of the operating member is continued a positive connection is established with the contact member when the inner eml ot' the push-button 3 abuts the shoulder Set the block. Further movement of the former then positively moves the latter to release the same from restraint by the stationary contacts 15. \Vhen the contact carrying member is thus freed the energy stored in the spring 14 immediately imparts a snap movement to the member until the fingers 15 snap into the recess of the conducting band 11. Circuit, is thus completed between the stationary contacts with a quick snap action. Pressure on the left push-button reverses the operation of the parts in a manner similar to that I describeid and effects a snap break of circuit. In the latter operation, however, the coil a, ;reciprocally acting contacting member raving a pluri-di-ameter bore providing a shoulder, a shouldered reciprocally acting operating member mounted in said bore and r ovable for causing abutment of said ,2!) shoulders, an energy storing connection between saidrnembers and resilient -restrain ing and contacting means cooperating with said contacting member to maintain the opera-ting member for storing energy in said connection and to. release said contacting imember' for expending such stored energy following abutment of said shoulders during mconti'imed movement of said operating ,3,0 member. l i i a '2. In an electric switch, in combination, a

reciprocally acting contacting member havv of in t'ernally located shoulders,a relatively -3fiz=reciprocable operating member mounted within said bore and having a shoulder aranged to oppose the shoulders thereof and adapted to abut. one of the same, an energy storing-springtobe compressed between the shoulder of said operating member and the mother of said internal-shoulders and means for restraining said contacting member during compression of said-spring and releasing pring 13 is tensioned to impart a snap 1. In an electric switch, in combination,

Same stationary during movement of said inga multidiameter 'bore'providing a pairwitnesses.

said member upon engagement of said abutting shoulders.

3. In an electric swltch, in combination, a

longitudinally boredreciprocally acting contacting member, a shouldered reciprocally acting operating member mounted in said bore, a counterbored shoulder in said contacting member, an expansion spring between said shoulders and surrounding said operating member, a second counterbored shoulder in said contacting-member for engagement by the shoulder of said operating member upon movement thereof in one direction and subsequent to tensioning of said spring, and stationary contacting means for cooperating with said movable contacting member andreleasably restraining the same in predetermined positions.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a

reciprocally acting operating member,

bored contacting member mounted for independent rect1l1near movement thereon, oppositely facing shoulders 1n the bore of 'sald contacting member, corresponding shoulders on said opera-ting member, an energy storlng spring engaged between each cooperating pair of shoulders, a further pair. of shoulders upon said contacting member for positive.

engagement by the respective shoulders of said operatmg member upon movementof the latter'in either direction, and statlonary contacting means preponderating the stored energy in said springs for releasably restraining said movable contacting member against movement until directly engaged by said operating member.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two CHARLES J. KLEIN;

Witnesses:

' T. A. VVA'rsoN, TEKLA BAST. 

